Steel Challenge Primer

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Steel Challenge Primer

Steel Challenge is an exciting shooting discipline that combines speed and accuracy in a fun format that can be enjoyed by almost anyone at any level of experience. The following is an overview of the game and rules that govern it. It is important that everyone understand and follow the rules – for safety's sake as well as to facilitate a smooth match that's fun for everyone.

SAFETY – always our first priority

Hearing and eye protection is always mandatory, for all participants and guests. 5 Dogs is a cold range:

• The only time a shooter may handle a firearm is at a designated Safe Area or instructed to do so by the Range Officer [RO] in preparation for shooting a Course of Fire [CoF].

• At the Safe Area, you may take your gun out of the gun bag, put it in your holster, or work on it. When not holstered, the muzzle must be pointing in a safe direction.

• All firearms are to remain unloaded at all times – no magazines, moonclips, etc. in the gun until instructed by the RO to Make Ready in preparation for shooting a CoF.

• You may load magazines or moonclips anywhere on the range except near the Safe Area. Under no circumstances is ammunition or ammo carriers (empty or full) to be handled at the Safe Area. No reload drills in the Safe Area.

Please read and understand all rules before shooting Steel Challenge. If these rules are not followed you will be disqualified from the match for that day.

SETUP

We need your help! All of our matches are only possible through volunteer help. Please come a little early and help setup the stages and stay after to help tear it down. Don't be a "Shooter Scooter"...

SCORING

A shooter's score is based on the total time it takes to engage and hit 5 steel plates. There are 5 strings of fire for a total of 25 rounds per stage if there are no misses. There are four primary plates and one stop plate set up in different arrays.

The stop plate must only be shot at the end of the string. The shooter may take as many shots as required to score hits on the plates. With no misses, a match with 8 stages will require 200 rounds - we recommend bring 250-300 depending on your skill level.

The maximum time allowed for a string of fire is 30 seconds; most are shot in 10 seconds or less. Penalties are expressed as time added to the shooter’s performance on that string. A miss on a primary target (an unmarked plate) will incur a 3 second penalty added to the time for that string. Missing the stop plate will result in a 30 second string time.

Shooters will shoot five strings of fire, and the best four will count toward the match performance – ie., the slowest string is thrown out. At the end of the match all scores are added to obtain the shooter’s total match time.

START POSITION

For centerfire handguns, the shooter will start with the gun loaded and holstered with wrists above shoulders.

For rimfire handguns or rifles there is no holster and shooter will start aiming at a flag or Low Ready position.

DIVISIONS

Here are a summary of the divisions, please review the rule book for equipment specifications. Many of the divisions and the allowed equipment in USPSA are the same in Steel Challenge.

LOADING DEVICES

Magazine carriers are required for centerfire only. carriers or loaders must be worn on a belt with at least: 5 – 10 round magazines, or 4 – standard capacity magazines with 15 rounds plus, or 5 – speed loaders or moon clip holders.

You will shoot a minimum of 25 rounds per stage so make sure you have enough magazines / moonclips / speed loaders so that you do not have to reload between strings of fire. If you do not have enough magazine carriers, you may use pockets.

For rimfire, 3 to 5 – magazines which can be worn on a belt or carried in your pockets. If the shooter is junior and opts for a reduced round count, they will run three strings ONLY. Three magazines are all that will be required.

Please bring enough magazines so that other shooters do not have to wait on you – This will avoid lengthy delays in the match.

DISQUALIFICATION

• Breaking the 180 rule while loading, unloading, or shooting • Any unsafe gun handling at the range • Failure to follow RO instructions • Accidental discharge of a firearm • Dropping a loaded firearm or being in possession of a loaded firearm at any time other than when instructed to Make Ready by the RO • Any shot fired over a berm or backstop • Bad/abusive language, unsportsman‐like conduct, or appearance of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol • Inappropriate attire, as determined by the Match Director. The use of offensive or objectionable garments is not allowed

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About Us

5 Dogs Action Shooters is a group of like minded shooting enthusiasts. Not only do we enjoy action shooting sports, we also focus on supporting our Second Amendment Rights, gun safety awareness and training, promoting shooting sports amongst younger shooters and local charity functions.